Also of interest, we seem to be in a strong tornado drought. At 152 days on April 18, 2014, the span between EF-3 or stronger tornadoes is the 4th longest span between in the last 60 years. Here’s is a plot of the 10 longest spans between EF-3 and stronger tornadoes since 1953. (Click for full resolution image.)

51 thoughts on “Tornado season so far may be the slowest in a century”

Yep. However, let the warmists get one EF-3 this spring that blows away someone’s chicken coop, and the MSM will play it up like the San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. You’ll be hearing about how it was caused by global warming for the next week.

Since I live in the bottom corner of Tornado Alley in East Texas, allow me to float an idea that could be a possible explanation; and I know this isn’t really “scientific” it’s really more in the line of shade-tree speculation, but;

Our entire winter and spring have been WAY off so far. January was unbelievably cold, February wasn’t great, and March started off with one of the worst and heaviest ice storms we have had in decades. In fact, to everyone it has seemed that in March, we had our typical February weather, and there was no quick warm up – April so far has felt like our typical March weather, we still had a couple nights in the low 30’s last week. Now, 21 days into the month, it finally feels like spring, but it is about a full month late.

How that relates, I think – the months of April and May are typically our heaviest tornado season, as the warm air from the gulf clashes with the cold air from the north over the plains. (November, give or take a couple weeks, is the next worst) But if our weather cycle is off (delayed) by almost an entire month this year (which is sure what it feels like) that may mean that our tornado season this year is going to happen in May and June. This would explain why nothing much has happened so far.

The histogram chart is useful in that it covers a wide time range (68 years) but apparently a narrow class of tornados. 2008 is listed as 341, but on the spaghetti chart.it is over 600, along with 2011.

Last year was the lowest number of tornados on record. And this year is starting out far lower than that even.

This “inflation/undercount-adjusted” chart of tornado counts (going back to 1954) is a better one to use since it accounts for tornados which would have been missed in the earlier periods. 2014 is the lowest on record to date … 2013 was the lowest on record by the end of the year but was not the lowest at this time of year.

Al Gore: Scientists won’t ‘let us’ connect climate to tornadoes
Former Vice President Al Gore lamented today that scientists “will not let us link record-breaking” tornadoes in Oklahoma and elsewhere to climate change because of inadequate record keeping on the twisters.

Am I right in thinking that global warming would lead to FEWER weather extremes due to the reduced temperature difference between the poles and the equator?

That is one scenario. Another possibility may be that, with a reduced zonal flow, more Arctic air will be allowed to flow further south. This could actually increase the temperature contrast in southern areas of the U.S. and lead to more storms there. As is often the case in meteorology, there is more than one plausible outcome. Anyone who states they know the definitive answer is either lyng or hasn’t been in this weather game very long.

@Latitude 3:48 pm
Yes, think of the days with “Polar Vortex” and Gulf Coast air masses colliding this year. The temperature gradients across the Mississippi Valley were high. Did anyone predict low tornado activity under those conditions? And if so, what was the justification?

Reblogged this on gottadobetterthanthis and commented:
While one cannot make light of tornadoes, because a big one will come, and it mainly matters where it hits, but this is actually quite astonishing. Growing up in southeast Kansas, near Joplin, Missouri, and living in Oklahoma, near Moore, this is very personal for me, and it is simply a blessing that there have been nearly no tornadoes so far this year. Still, prepare. Also, pray for rain.

If this is the slowest start in the tornado season in 100 years, then the climate must be changing. And since any climate change is a bad thing (I don’t know why but that’s what alarmists keep telling us), we are all doomed! We must pray for more tornadoes. /sarc

The Australian cyclone season as it comes to an end has been such a non event that our BOM is claiming everthing near and far and I mean far as an Australian cyclone.
They are constantly “cooking the books” with zero official scrutiny.
The keep telling us cyclones are increasing.
When your claiming them as “ours” 2500 klm’s of shore, I can see why.
They say that the latest named “Jack”is number 10 for the season.
But what the BOM fails to mention nearly all of them have been nothing more than large rain depressions.
Quite common during the monsoonal season but their claiming them as cyclones and nobody and I mean nobody is questioning.
Here’s a little from the link refering to “Jack”.
“The system is currently located 2500 klm’s from the western most part of the continent”.
“Jack is not likely to impact western Australia, how ever as it dissipates into a deep low pressure trough some rain may be carried over southern parts of WA towards the end of the week”.
So there you have it.
An Australian cyclone 2500 kilometers of shore (in another country)which may or may not give us a bit of rain.
Australian cyclone my arse.http://www.weatherzone.com.au/news/jack-becomes-australias-tenth-cyclone/44447

An inconvenient truth for John Holdren. The Obama WH is well accustomed to the political need to distort the truth for public consumption, usually by telling a half truth, that leaves a false impression on the naive.

Question is: How will the WH direct NOAA to fudge-up some bogus distorted message on severe storms for the media to release?

Maybe like Trenberth, they are collectively holding their breath and hoping that an incipient strong El Nino will temporarily save their dying AGW cause?

Am I right in thinking that global warming would lead to FEWER weather extremes due to the reduced temperature difference between the poles and the equator?

That is one scenario. Another possibility may be that, with a reduced zonal flow, more Arctic air will be allowed to flow further south. This could actually increase the temperature contrast in southern areas of the U.S. and lead to more storms there. As is often the case in meteorology, there is more than one plausible outcome. Anyone who states they know the definitive answer is either lyng or hasn’t been in this weather game very long.

Thanks for that. Since we can’t look into the future I tend to look at the past. Below is the Medieval Warm Period and the Little Ice Age.

Abstract
A hypothesis is presented that a change in climate after 1250 AD from a period of optimal climate for long-distance voyaging (the Little Climatic Optimum, 750–1250 AD) to a period of less favourable and finally inhospitable climate for long-distance voyaging (the Little Ice Age, 1400–1850 AD) influenced the Polynesian migrations (300–1400 AD). The Little Climatic Optimum, with its persistent trade winds, clear skies, limited storminess, and consistent Walker Circulation may have been an ideal setting for migration. The Little Ice Age with its increased variability in trade winds, erratic Walker Circulation, increased storminess, and increased dust from volcanism may have helped [prevent migration. Such changes in climate would influence the migration pattern through physical perception and decision making by the Polynesians, rather than having a direct impact.http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0031-0182(83)90087-1

So this is the result of “Carbin” pollution? (Sorry, but I had to.) I have noticed that a lot of storm chasers have resorted to posting their ‘Best of’ photographs from years past, as this season has been a bust so far.

Well, the explanation is super obvious, and I can’t believe none of you are able to see the truth. You’re all forgetting that Former President Bush controls the weather. Remember when he recruited that hurricane because he hates black people (Kanye’s words, not mine)? Now, Bush is too busy with his painting to bother with creating natural disasters. Thus, less tornadoes. Thanks, Bush!

The University of East Angles released a study today that indicates due to a miscalculation of historical tornado strength and frequency, and all historical records have been adjusted to more closely reflect reality. In so doing the University has announced that the last two years are now ranked among the worst years for tornadoes on record – tying for first and second place respectively.

NBC has already attributed the lack of tornadoes to the “Polar Vortex”. Since there have been several past years when similar jet stream patterns were observed with correspondingly cold winters, have the years following them also had a dearth of tornadoes?

I for one would say good, the US is finally doing its part. I mean, we only have 4.4% of the worlds population yet typically account for 75% of the world’s tornados. We needed to cut back on them so it’s good to see we are doing our part.